Impatiens balsamina

Impatiens balsamina (Garden Balsam or Rose Balsam) is a species of Impatiens native to southern Asia in India and Myanmar. It is called kamantigue in the Philippines.

It is an annual plant growing to 20–75 cm tall, with a thick, but soft stem. The leaves are spirally-arranged, 2.5–9 cm long and 1–2.5 cm broad, with a deeply toothed margin. The flowers are red, pink, purple, or white, and 2.5–5 cm diameter; they are pollinated by bees and other insects, and also by nectar-feeding birds.

Different parts of the plant are used to treat disease and skin afflctions; the leaves, seeds, and stems are also edible if cooked. Juice from balsam leaves treats warts and also snakebite, while the flower can be applied to burns to cool the skin.

It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, and has become naturalised and invasive on several Pacific Ocean islands.

Impatience walleriana

Impatiens walleriana also known as Busy Lizzie, Balsam or simply Impatiens, is native to eastern Africa from Tanzania to Mozambique. It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 15-60 cm tall, with broad lanceolate leaves 3-12 cm long and 2-5 cm broad. Leaves are mostly alternate, although they may be opposite near the top of the plant. The flowers are profusely borne, 2-5 cm diameter, with five petals and a 1 cm spur. The seedpod explodes when ripe in the same manner as other Impatiens species, an evolutionary adaptation for seed dispersal.

Cultivation

It is commonly cultivated as a garden flower, where, although perennial in frost-free growing conditions, it is often treated as an annual, discarded at the end of the year. Propagation is by seed or stem cuttings.

The numerous garden cultivars, selected for varying flower colours, include:

• 'Accent Stars'
• 'Confection'
• 'Blackberry Ice'
• 'Eclipse'
• 'Elfin White'
• 'Extra Dwarf'
• 'Lipstick'
• 'Red Star'
• 'Super Elfin'
• 'Tempo Series'
• 'Wink and Blink'

'Super Elfin' is the dominantly available commercial cultivar group. This group of impatiens was bred by Claude Hope in Costa Rica. Mr. Hope developed this species from its native wild form into one of the most popular bedding plants in the world.

Source: Wikipedia